Definition

1. Verb:
   • To cut, tear, or pull the limbs from a body: To separate or remove the limbs, head, or other parts from a living creature or corpse.
   • To divide or break into parts, especially in a destructive way: To take apart the pieces or sections of a structured whole, such as an organization, country, or system.

Examples of Usage

• Verb:
  • The forensic report indicated the victim had been dismembered.
  • The ancient empire was dismembered by its conquerors into several smaller states.
  • Corporate restructuring effectively dismembered the old research division.

Advanced Usage

• "to dismember a body": a common forensic and legal phrase describing the act of cutting up a corpse.
  • The killer attempted to hide the crime by dismembering the body.
• Used figuratively to describe the breaking apart of abstract entities.
  • The new policy threatens to dismember the social safety net.

Variants and Related Words

• Dismemberment (n): The act or result of dismembering.
  • The dismemberment of the company led to widespread layoffs.

Synonyms

• Dismantle: To take apart a structure or organization.
• Disjoint: To separate at the joints.
• Amputate: To cut off a limb surgically (specific to living beings).
• Partition: To divide a territory (specific to geographical/political contexts).

Related Phrasal Verbs

(This word does not commonly form phrasal verbs.)

Related Idioms

(There are no common idioms directly using the word 'dismember'.)

Verb

1. divide into pieces
   • our department was dismembered when our funding dried up
   • The Empire was discerped after the war
2. separate the limbs from the body
   • the tiger dismembered the tourist